... until the Son of Man rises from the dead

Wait; … What, you have to die?

In the previous chapter of Mark’s Gospel

Jesus

Gives the Apostles their mid-term exam

Who do you say the Son of Man is?

They say: Messiah

Predicts his death (first time)

Peter: No way, Lord!

Tells the Apostles that they can expect similar treatment.

In today’s Gospel

Jesus

Reveals his glory

Predicts his resurrection (∴ his death)

The Apostles still don’t get it.

The Apostles

eventually do come to understand

that Jesus must suffer and, then rise

and so must they.

But not until after these events have passed

and the Holy Spirit has been poured out.

We, today

go about through life

mostly without thinking about death.

Life, after all, is a gift meant to be lived

not put on a shelf until ‘someday’.

Holy Mary, Mother of God,

Pray for us that we may, live life in the grace and joy of the resurrection and, as you did, ponder these things in our hearts until that day comes for the fulfillment of our lives. Then, in union with Christ, through suffering or peacefully, may we enter into glory with him.